Method and means for draining the ground for subaqueous excavations.



F. x. HALLINGER. METHOD AND MEANS FOR DRAINING THE GROUND FOR SUBAQUEOUS EXCAVATIONS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, I916.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- wag/1 .5 666 F. X. HALLINGER.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR DRAINING THE GROUND FOR SUBAQUEOUS EXCAVATIONS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 29, 1916.

1 04,977. Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- fivenZar Marneg m: Nanms was: no. puma-mun wAsmivaram n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ XAVEB. HALLINGER, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR DRAINING THE GROUND FOR SUBAQUEOUS EXCAVATIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14., 1916.

Application filed March 29, 1916. Serial No. 87,544.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANZ XAVER HAL- LINGER, a subject of the King of Bavaria, and resident of No. l/1O6 Steinstrasse, Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Method and means for Draining the Ground for Subaqueous Excavations, of which the following is a' specification.

The present invention relates to animproved method and means for draining the ground for subaqueous excavations. Inside a tower to be erected atthe bottom of the river or the like, which tower is open at its lower end and corresponds to the width of the ditch to be excavated. I The water is completely driven out by compressed air and at both sides of the ditch to be excavated pile planking is driven over which a water tight cover is constructed. Subsequently inside the space bordered by or between the pile planking, a tunnel or adit having a pervious wall is run, toward which tunnel or adit the ground-water flows so that it can be pumped above ground.

In the annexed drawings is shown by way of example one mode of carrying into practice this invention. V

Figure 1 shows the improved means for draining the ground for subaqueous excavations in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section.

Supposing an excavation is to be carried out below the bottom of a river, according to the present invention a tower at is employed, which is open at its lower end and which corresponds to the width of the ditch to be excavated. This tower (6 is movable upon a trestle or framing b, which is progressively constructed as the work proceeds. According to the depth of the water this tower a can be adjusted and fixed at a lower or higher elevation. In deep water, when the weight of the tower is not sufiicient to place the latter upon the bed or bottom of the river, additional weight is provided by means of cast iron blocks, lead, concrete or the like.

The tower at serves for the purpose of expelling or driving out by means of compressed air, the water down to the lower edge of the tower and, when required, still deeper. In the latter case it is advantageous to place clay or fine sand at the joint of the lower edge of the tower with the bed or bottom of the river. The tower a further serves for operating, by means of electricor compressed air, pile drivers for driving pile planking (Z at both sides of the ditch to be excavated and for constructing above this pile planking and in tight connection therewith, a water tight cover 6 at the bottom of the river.

Into the space bordered by the pile planking (Z and covered by the cover' 6, a small a dry ditch without applying compressed air.

What I do claim as my invention and d esire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. Improved method for draining the ground for subaqueous excavations, consisting in erecting a tower at the bottom of the river or the like above theplace destined for the structure to be permanently constructed, said tower being open at its lower end and corresponding to the ditch to be excavated, consisting further in driving the water completely out of the tower by compressed air,

in driving pile planking at both sides of the ditch to be excavated, in constructing a water tight cover above the pile planking at the bottom of the river in running a tunnel into the space between the pile planking, said'tunnel having a pervious wall, and in finally pumping the watercollecting inside the tunnel oradit above ground.

2. A method for draining ground for subaqueous excavations consisting in erecting a caisson extending to the bottom of a body of water, in removing the water from within thecaisson, in separating the earth within the caisson and to be excavated by partitions extended into the ground, in covering the earth between said partitions with a substantially water-proof covering, and in providing a tunnel having a pervious wall 'for draining the earth between said partitions.

3. A method for draining ground for subaqueous excavations consisting in separating, by partitions extended into the ground, the

earth to be excavated, in covering the earth betweensaid partitions with a substantially water-proof covering, and in providing a draining adit for draining the earth between said partitions.

4. A method for draining ground for sub- 5 aqueousexcavations, consisting in erecting a caisson at the bottom of a body of water, in

removing the Water Within the caisson, in

driving piles for partitioning the portions of the earth to be excavated, in covering the 10 portions of earth between said partitions with a substantially Water-proof covering, and in providing an adit for draining the earth between said partitions.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 3rd day of December, 1915, in 15 the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

FRANZ XAVER HALLINGER.

Vitnesses V FRANCIS R. STEWART, LOUIS R. DILGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. 0. i 

